Transport session state protocol

ABSTRACT

One embodiment provides a system that facilitates an efficient transport protocol. During operation, the system receives a first interest which indicates a query for optimal transport parameters, wherein a name for an interest is a hierarchically structured variable length identifier that includes contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level, wherein the query is based on a name prefix that includes one or more contiguous name components. The system computes the optimal parameters based on historical information associated with the name prefix. The system transmits a first response which includes the computed optimal parameters to a requesting entity, thereby facilitating a transport protocol which increases network efficiency.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The subject matter of this application is related to the subject matter in the following applications:

-   -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/847,814, entitled         “ORDERED-ELEMENT NAMING FOR NAME-BASED PACKET FORWARDING,” by         inventor Ignacio Solis, filed 20 Mar. 2013 (hereinafter “U.S.         patent application Ser. No. 13/847,814”);     -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/338,175, entitled         “CONTROLLING THE SPREAD OF INTERESTS AND CONTENT IN A CONTENT         CENTRIC NETWORK,” by inventors Van L. Jacobson and Diana K.         Smetters, filed 18 Dec. 2008 (hereinafter “U.S. patent         application Ser. No. 12/338,175”);     -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/334,530, entitled “INTEREST         RETURN CONTROL MESSAGE,” by inventors Marc E. Mosko, Ignacio         Solis, and Ersin Uzun, filed 17 Jul. 2014 (hereinafter “U.S.         patent application Ser. No. 14/334,530”); and     -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/746,490, entitled “TRANSPORT         STACK NAME SCHEME AND IDENTITY MANAGEMENT,” by inventors         Christopher A. Wood and Glenn C. Scott, filed 22 Jun. 2015         (hereinafter “U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/746,490”);         the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in         their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Field

This disclosure is generally related to distribution of digital content. More specifically, this disclosure is related to a system that allows a requesting network element to query or negotiate with a responding network element for optimal transport parameters based on historical network information.

Related Art

The proliferation of the Internet and e-commerce continues to create a vast amount of digital content. Content centric network (CCN) architectures have been designed to facilitate accessing and processing such digital content. A CCN includes entities, or nodes, such as network clients, forwarders (e.g., routers), and content producers, which communicate with each other by sending interest packets for various content items and receiving content object packets in return. CCN interests and content objects are identified by their unique names, which are typically hierarchically structured variable length identifiers (HSVLI). An HSVLI can include contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level. A CCN name prefix, or namespace, may include one or more contiguous name components beginning from the most general level.

Some transport protocols implement flow and congestion control by maintaining a window of messages (e.g., packets) sent from a client (e.g, a consumer) to a server (e.g., a content producer). Upon sending a packet, the consumer adds a packet to the window, and upon receiving a responsive packet, the consumer removes a packet from the window. For a window with a size of “w,” only w messages can be outstanding at any given time. Some transport protocols (such as TCP) use a sliding window such that w is a variable that changes dynamically based on network conditions. For example, if the protocol determines congestion, e.g., due to heavy traffic of neighboring nodes, the consumer can decrease w so that fewer messages are sent to the network. Similarly, if the protocol determines that the network is not congested, the consumer can increase w so that more messages can be sent for better throughput and latency performance.

While a CCN brings many desired features to a network, some issues remain unsolved with enabling a CCN transport protocol which results in optimal convergence to minimize congestion, by allowing system users to query the network for optimal transport parameters.

SUMMARY

One embodiment provides a system that facilitates an efficient transport protocol. During operation, the system receives a first interest which indicates a query for optimal transport parameters, wherein a name for an interest is a hierarchically structured variable length identifier that includes contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level, wherein the query is based on a name prefix that includes one or more contiguous name components. The system computes the optimal parameters based on historical information associated with the name prefix. The system transmits a first response which includes the computed optimal parameters to a requesting entity, thereby facilitating a transport protocol which increases network efficiency.

In some embodiments, the optimal transport parameters include one or more of: an optimal or average size of a transmission window for the name prefix; an average round trip time for an interest and corresponding content object based on the name prefix; and a parameter to use when initiating a new flow based on a transport protocol.

In some embodiments, the first interest indicates one or more of: a quality of service or a priority level; a user identifier of the requesting entity; authentication information of the requesting entity; and a set of estimated optimal transport parameters which include an estimate by the requesting entity of the requested optimal transport parameters.

In some embodiments, the first interest includes a notification flag which indicates a request for the computer system to send a notification to the requesting entity, wherein the notification indicates changes to the computed optimal parameters. The system generates a second response that is an interest which indicates the notification of the changes to the computed optimal parameters.

In some embodiments, the system generates an ownership token which is a pre-image of a hash function that results in a hash value. The system includes the ownership token in the first response, wherein the ownership token and the hash value are subsequently used by the requesting entity to provide to the computing system verification for migrating state from one flow to another.

In some embodiments, the first interest further indicates a bid or payment for available resources. In response to the first interest, the system determines an allocation of the resources based on the bid or based on the bid and bids indicated in interests from other requesting entities, wherein the first response further includes a result of the resource allocation determination.

In some embodiments, the system includes in the first response a set of values for available resources and an option to pay for the resources. In response to the first response, the system receives a second interest that indicates a bid or payment for the resources. The system determines an allocation of the resources based on the bid or based on the bid and bids indicated in interests from other requesting entities. The system generates for the requesting entity or entities a second response that includes a result of the resource allocation determination.

In some embodiments, the option to pay for resources indicates payment methods based on digital currency, including one or more of: a bitcoin; a computing resource; an amount of time spent by the requesting entity to perform a function on behalf of the computer system; a virtual currency; a cryptocurrency; and any other digital currency.

In some embodiments, the first interest or the name for the first interest indicates one or more of: a flow identifier which indicates the name prefix on which the query is based; a routable prefix which includes one or more contiguous name components beginning from the most general level; an identifier for the computer system; a command that indicates a function for the query and a type of transport parameter requested; one or more parameters for the query; a bid or payment for available resources; and a random nonce.

In some embodiments, the method is performed by a responding entity which resides in one or more of: an application; a single stack; a shared stack; a single forwarder; a shared forwarder; and any node in a network.

Another embodiment provides a system that facilitates an efficient transport protocol. During operation, the system generates a first interest which indicates a query for optimal transport parameters, wherein a name for an interest is a hierarchically structured variable length identifier that includes contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level, wherein the query is based on a name prefix that includes one or more contiguous name components. The system transmits the first interest to a responding entity, which causes the responding entity to compute the optimal parameters based on historical information associated with the name prefix. In response to receiving from the responding entity a first response which includes the computed optimal parameters, the system performs an operation that increases network efficiency based on the historical information, thereby facilitating a transport protocol which increases network efficiency.

In some embodiments, the system includes in the first interest a notification flag which indicates a request for the responding entity to send a notification to the computer system, wherein the notification indicates changes to the computed optimal parameters. In response to the first interest, the system receives a second response that is an interest which indicates the notification of the changes to the computed optimal parameters.

In some embodiments, the system indicates in the first interest a bid or payment for available resources, wherein the first response further includes a result of a resource allocation determination by the responding entity based on the bid or based on the bid and bids indicated in interests from other requesting entities.

In some embodiments, the system generates a second interest that indicates a bid or payment for resources. In response to the second interest, the system receives a second response that includes a result of a resource allocation determination by the responding entity based on the bid or based on the bid and bids indicated in interests from other requesting entities.

In some embodiments, the method is performed by a requesting entity which is one or more of: an application associated with a first stack, wherein the responding entity resides in or is associated with the first stack; an application associated with a second stack that is different from the first stack; a stack component of the first stack, wherein the stack component is different from the responding entity; a stack component of the second stack; and any other element or node in the network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary environment which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary transport framework which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein a collector component resides in a single forwarder, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B illustrates an exemplary transport framework which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein a collector component resides in a shared forwarder, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2C illustrates an exemplary transport framework which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein a collector component resides in a single transport stack of the transport framework, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2D illustrates an exemplary transport framework which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein a collector component resides in an application associated with the transport framework, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary communication in a system which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein the requesting entity is a stack component of the same stack with which the responder component is associated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary responder component in a forwarder component, wherein the requesting entity and the responder component are associated with the same stack, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3C illustrates an exemplary communication in a system which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein the requesting entity is an application associated with the same stack with which the collector component is associated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3D illustrates an exemplary communication in a system which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein the requesting entity is an application associated with a stack with which the responder component is not associated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3E illustrates an exemplary responder component in a forwarder component, wherein the requesting entity and the responder component are not associated with the same stack, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3F illustrates an exemplary communication in a system which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein the requesting entity is a stack component of a stack with which the responder component is not associated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3G illustrates an exemplary communication in a system which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein the requesting entity is another network element or node, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A presents a flow chart illustrating a method by a responding entity or a responder component for facilitating an efficient transport protocol, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B presents a flow chart illustrating a method by a responding entity or a responder component for facilitating an efficient transport protocol, including a network resource marketplace, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A presents a flow chart illustrating a method by a requesting entity for facilitating an efficient transport protocol, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B presents a flow chart illustrating a method by a requesting entity for facilitating an efficient transport protocol, including a network resource marketplace, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary computer system that facilitates an efficient transport protocol, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same figure elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the embodiments, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

Overview

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system which provides a transport protocol that allows a system user to query the network for optimal transport parameters. The network responds to the query via a generic “respondent component,” which may compute the optimal transport parameters based on previously collected historical network information. The system user may use the computed optimal transport parameters to perform an operation which increases network efficiency. For example, the system user may query the responder component for an optimal transmission window size for a given namespace, where the queried window size is a request for the responder component to compute a function based on previously collected historical network information (e.g., an average window size for the namespace over a given period of time). The responder component may obtain the historical information from a collector component, described below in relation to FIGS. 2A-2E. The responder component can reside in an application, a stack, a forwarder, or any node in a network. The system user (e.g., the requesting entity, the requester, or the client) can be: an application or stack component associated with a stack with which the responder component is also associated; an application or stack component or a stack with which the responder component is not associated; or any other element or node in the network.

The requester may include in its query relevant parameters such as a quality of service and authentication information of the requester. The requester can also include the requester's own estimate of the requested set of values. The requester can also include a notification flag which indicates a request for the responder component to send a notification of any changes made to the computed optimal parameters. The notification allows the requester to adjust its transport protocol values for quicker and more efficient changes in network conditions. The responder component can send the notification in the payload of an interest, or in an interest which encapsulates a content object.

In addition, the responder component may provide to the requester a special “ownership token” (e.g., the pre-image of a hash function), which the requester can subsequently use for verification to migrate network resources from one flow to another. For example, the requester can use the ownership token provided by the responder component to initiate a new flow, indicate ownership of a previous flow, and migrate network resources from the previous flow to the new flow. Network resources may include the amount of available bandwidth that is allocated or used for a particular flow for QoS needs.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a system which operates as a network resource marketplace based on the transport protocol. In addition to the queried transport parameters, the responder component may provide the requester with a set of values for available resources, and an option to “pay” for more resources. Alternatively, the requester can issue a query with a corresponding “bid” for resources, which the responder component can then respond to in an auction-like fashion (e.g., depending on bids received from other requesting entities).

Thus, the system implements a transport protocol between a requesting entity and a responder component which results in optimal convergence to minimize congestion, resulting in a more efficient network. The transport protocol can operate in a content centric network (“CCN”). In CCN, each piece of content is individually named, and each piece of data is bound to a unique name that distinguishes the data from any other piece of data, such as other versions of the same data or data from other sources. This unique name allows a network device to request the data by disseminating a request or an interest that indicates the unique name, and can obtain the data independent from the data's storage location, network location, application, and means of transportation. The following terms are used to describe the CCN architecture:

Content Object (or “content object”): A single piece of named data, which is bound to a unique name. Content Objects are “persistent,” which means that a Content Object can move around within a computing device, or across different computing devices, but does not change. If any component of the Content Object changes, the entity that made the change creates a new Content Object that includes the updated content, and binds the new Content Object to a new unique name.

Unique Names: A name in a CCN is typically location independent and uniquely identifies a Content Object. A data-forwarding device can use the name or name prefix to forward a packet toward a network node that generates or stores the Content Object, regardless of a network address or physical location for the Content Object. In some embodiments, the name may be a hierarchically structured variable-length identifier (HSVLI). The HSVLI can be divided into several hierarchical components, which can be structured in various ways. For example, the individual name components parc, home, ccn, and test.txt can be structured in a left-oriented prefix-major fashion to form the name “/parc/home/ccn/test.txt.” Thus, the name “/parc/home/ccn” can be a “parent” or “prefix” of “/parc/home/ccn/test.txt.” Additional components can be used to distinguish between different versions of the content item, such as a collaborative document. The HSVLI can also include contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level.

In some embodiments, the name can include an identifier, such as a hash value that is derived from the Content Object's data (e.g., a checksum value) and/or from elements of the Content Object's name. A description of a hash-based name is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/847,814, which is herein incorporated by reference. A name can also be a flat label. Hereinafter, “name” is used to refer to any name for a piece of data in a name-data network, such as a hierarchical name or name prefix, a flat name, a fixed-length name, an arbitrary-length name, or a label (e.g., a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) label).

Interest (or “interest”): A packet that indicates a request for a piece of data, and includes a name (or a name prefix) for the piece of data. A data consumer can disseminate a request or Interest across an information-centric network, which CCN/NDN routers can propagate toward a storage device (e.g., a cache server) or a data producer that can provide the requested data to satisfy the request or Interest.

The methods disclosed herein are not limited to CCN networks and are applicable to other architectures as well. A description of a CCN architecture is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/338,175, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Exemplary Network and Communication

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary environment 100 which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Computing environment 100 can include a computer network 102, such as a CCN. Environment 100 can also include a user 106 associated with a local computing device 104, and a remote computing device 108. Devices 104 and 108 can have internal transport stacks (e.g., associated with transport frameworks 130 and 170, respectively) that exchange network packets with each other over network 102. Network packets can include interest packets and content object packets.

In a traditional IP architecture, a forwarder is an IP-based forwarder that looks at the header of a packet to determine the source and the destination for the packet, and forwards the packet to the destination. The stack performs TCP/UDP, and an application interacts with the stack via a socket. In contrast, device 104 of the present invention does not use a conventional “stack.” Rather, device 104 via an application 110 can request a portal API instance corresponding to a portal 120 which corresponds to transport framework 130. Similarly, device 108 via an application 150 can request a portal API instance corresponding to a portal 160 which corresponds to transport framework 170.

Device 104 can include any computing device coupled to network 102, such as a smartphone 104.1, a tablet computer 104.2, and/or a server or personal computer 104.m. Specifically, device 104 can include application 110 which communicates via portal 120 with transport framework 130. Transport framework 130 can include stack components 134.1-134.n. Device 104 can also include forwarder 140 (e.g., a network interface card, or a router in a local area network) which can transfer packets between a stack (and individual stack components) of transport framework 130 and network 102. Similarly, device 108 can include any computing device coupled to network 102, such as a server or an end host device. Device 108 can include application 150 which communicates via portal 160 with transport framework 170. Transport framework 170 can include stack components 174.1-174.p. Device 108 can also include a forwarder 180 which can transfer packets between a stack (and individual stack components) of transport framework 170 and network 102. Forwarders 140 and 180 can also facilitate the transfer of packets directly between individual stack components 134.1-134.n and 174.1-174.p, respectively. Forwarder 140 can include a collector component and a responder component (not shown), as described below in relation to FIGS. 3A-3G.

Exemplary Transport Frameworks

The collector component can be implemented in a CCN transport framework, and can reside in a forwarder (as in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2E), in a stack (as in FIG. 2C), or in an application (as in FIG. 2D). FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary transport framework which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein a collector component resides in a single forwarder, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Applications 210 and 250 can reside on the same device or on difference devices which communicate via a network 202. Application 210 can use APIs 212, 214, and 216 to communicate over network 202, and APIs 212-216 can interact via a portal 220 with a transport framework 230. Transport framework 230 can include one or more transport stacks which each include multiple stack components or communication modules. In FIG. 2A, transport framework 230 depicts one transport stack (e.g., a transport stack 231) which includes stack components 232, 234, 236, and 238. An API adapter 232 can communicate between an API and a specific transport stack and transport framework 230. A flow controller 234 can shape and manage traffic, pipeline and transmit interests, and order content objects. A verifier/signer 236 can encode and sign content objects destined for a network element, decode and verify content objects destined for the application, encode interests destined for a network element, and decode interests destined for the application. A forwarder/adapter 238 can communicate with a forwarder 240. Forwarder 240 can communicate with other forwarders over network 202. A collector component 242 can reside inside forwarder 240 (or inside forwarder 280, not shown). Other stack components (not shown) can include functionality related to security (e.g., encryption, decryption, authentication, data signing, signature verification, trust assessment, and filtering), data-processing (e.g., encoding, decoding, encapsulating, decapsulating, transcoding, compression, extraction, and decompression), and storage (e.g., data storage, data retrieval from storage, deduplication, segmentation, and versioning).

Similarly, application 250 can use APIs 252, 254, and 256 to communicate over network 202, and APIs 252-256 can interact via a portal 260 with a transport framework 270. Transport framework 270 can include one or more transport stacks which each include multiple stack components or communication modules. In FIG. 2A, transport framework 270 depicts one transport stack (e.g., a transport stack 271) which includes the following stack components: an API adapter 272; a flow controller 274; a verifier/signer 276; and a forwarder/adapter 278 which can communicate with a forwarder 280. Forwarder 280 can communicate with forwarder 240 over network 202. Application 210 can be associated with a consumer or a client computing device, and application 250 can be associated with a producer or a content producing device.

During operation, collector 242 residing in forwarder 240 can monitor a plurality of packets which are outgoing interests and incoming content objects. For example, application 210 can generate and send an interest 290 with a name of “/a/b/c,” via portal instance 220 through stack 231. As interest 290 leaves stack 231, it passes through forwarder 240 and collector 242. Collector 242 can monitor the time at which interest 290 is transmitted. Interest 290 can then travel over network 202, and through, e.g., forwarder 280 to be satisfied by application 250 associated with stack 271. Application 250 can generate a responsive content object 292 with a name of “/a/b/c” and a payload of “Data.” Content object 293 can travel via forwarder 280 to forwarder 240 over network 202. Collector 242 can note the time that it receives responsive incoming content object 292, and record in a storage device 242.1 the round trip time associated with the multiple namespaces included in the name “/a/b/c” (i.e., “/a,” “/a/b,” and “/a/b/c”). Collector 242 can also store in storage device 242.1 other historical information associated with a given namespace, as described below in the section entitled “Exemplary Historical Information.” Storage device 242.1 can be accessed solely by collector 242 or shared with other components or elements.

Collector 242 can also monitor an incoming interest 294 (with a name of “/d/e/f” sent by application 250 via forwarder 280) by monitoring the time at which interest 294 is received. Collector 242 can subsequently monitor and record the time that an outgoing responsive content object 296 is transmitted, where content object 296 has a name of “/d/e/f” and is sent by application 210 via forwarder 240. Collector 242 can also monitor and record the round trip time associated with the multiple namespaces included in the name “/d/e/f” (i.e., “Id,” “Idle,” and “/d/e/f”) as well as other historical information.

Thus, collector 242 can obtain and store various historical information related to a given namespace. Any requesting entity (e.g., a user of the system) can subsequently query the component for the historical information. A requesting entity can be: an application associated with a first stack, where the collector component resides in the first stack (e.g., application 210); an application associated with a second stack that is different from the first stack (e.g., application 250); a stack component of the first stack, wherein the stack component is different from the collector component (e.g., flow controller 234); a stack component of the second stack (e.g., flow controller 274); and any other element or node in the network (not shown).

FIG. 2B illustrates an exemplary transport framework which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein a collector component resides in a shared forwarder, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The framework in FIG. 2B corresponds to the framework in FIG. 2A, with the difference being that applications 210 and 250, and stacks 231 and 271, respectively, are both associated with forwarder 240. In FIG. 2B, collector 242 resides in forwarder 240 and can thus monitor all traffic that passes through forwarder 240. Forwarder 240 is shared by applications 210 and 250, which can reside on the same device. Collector 242 can monitor packets transmitted to and received from network 202 in a similar fashion as described above in FIG. 2A. For example, collector 242 can monitor outgoing interests transmitted from application 210 through stack 231 via network 202 to another network node (not shown) as well as incoming responsive content objects received via network 202. Collector 242 can also monitor incoming interests transmitted to application 250 through stack 271 via network 202 as well as outgoing responsive content objects sent via network 202. Collector 242 can store historical information collected and associated with the monitored packets (e.g., in storage device 242.1, not shown in FIG. 2B).

FIG. 2C illustrates an exemplary transport framework which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein a collector component resides in a single transport stack of the transport framework, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The framework in FIG. 2C corresponds to the framework in FIG. 2A, with the difference being that collector 242 is a stack component that resides inside stack 231. A requesting entity can submit a query for historical information associated with a given namespace to collector 242. A transport stack name scheme, including submitting a query directly to a stack component, is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/746,490. Collector 242 can store historical information collected and associated with the monitored packets (e.g., in storage device 242.1, not shown in FIG. 2C).

FIG. 2D illustrates an exemplary transport framework which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein a collector component resides in an application associated with the transport framework, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The framework in FIG. 2D corresponds to the framework in FIG. 2A, with the difference being that collector 242 resides in application 210. Again, collector 242 can store historical information collected and associated with the monitored packets (e.g., in storage device 242.1, not shown in FIG. 2D).

Exemplary Historical Information

Consider the following sequence of n interest messages issued by different applications on the same end-host, i.e., I_(j) for j=1, . . . , n:

I₁ = /a/b 1/c 1 I₂ = /a/b 1/c 2 I₃ = /a/b 1/c 3 … I_(i − 1) = /a/b 1/c i I_(i) = /a/b 2/c 1 … I_(n) = /a/b 2/fileN

In a window that includes each of interests I_(j), the “/a” namespace has n interests, the “/a/b1” namespace has i interests, and the “/a/b2” namespace has (n−i+1) interests. Each of interests I_(h) has a corresponding content object response, C_(j).

For each of interests I_(j), the collector component can collect various types of historical information based on each particular namespace, including the items in the following non-exhaustive list:

-   -   1) A round trip time (“RTT”) that begins when an         outgoing/incoming interest is transmitted and ends when a         corresponding incoming/outgoing content object is received;     -   2) A number of outgoing/incoming interests for which a         corresponding incoming/outgoing content object has not been         received (e.g., outstanding window size);     -   3) A number of outgoing/incoming interests for which a         corresponding incoming/outgoing content object is received based         on a predetermined amount of time or an RTT;     -   4) A number of bytes correctly retrieved based on a         predetermined amount of time or an RTT;     -   5) A number of outgoing/incoming interests that time out based         on a predetermined amount of time or an RTT;     -   6) A number of outgoing/incoming interests which are         retransmitted based on a predetermined amount of time or an RTT;     -   7) A number of re-transmitted outgoing/incoming interests that         time out based on a predetermined amount of time or an RTT;     -   8) A number of interest return messages received/transmitted         based on a predetermined amount of time or an RTT, where an         interest return message is identified based on a code indicated         in the message;     -   9) A number of outgoing/incoming interests aggregated based on a         predetermined amount of time or an RTT;     -   10) A number of active upstream paths identified for a given         time;     -   11) A strategy for forwarding or processing packets;     -   12) A number of transmitted original interests, where an         original interest is not a re-transmitted interest, wherein the         number of original interests include names that share one or         more name prefixes (“correlated”) and names that do not share         any name prefixes (“uncorrelated”); and     -   13) A number of active entries in a forwarding information base,         where the number of entries include correlated and uncorrelated         entries.         Exemplary Optimal Transport Parameters

In embodiments of the present invention, the responder component can perform a function included in a query from a requesting entity based on previously collected historical information. The responder component may have access to a local storage which contains the relevant historical information, or the responder component may obtain the relevant historical information from a collector component (as described below in relation to FIGS. 3A-3G). Examples of queries for optimal transport parameters include a query for a computation of the average RTT for a given namespace, an estimate of the transmission window size, and a user-defined function. In estimating the average RTT for a given namespace, consider the n interest messages issued by different applications on the same end-host, i.e., I_(j) for j=1, . . . , n. Recall that each of interests I_(j) has a corresponding content object response, C_(j). Let r_(j) be the RTT of the issuance of the interest I_(j) and the retrieval of the corresponding content object C_(j), and assume that historical information is maintained for windows of size d<i and d<(n−i+1). Then, for each of the three namespaces (i.e., “/a,” “/a/b1,” and “/a/b2”), the responder component can compute a smoothed RTT average r[/a], r[/a/b1], and r[/a/b2]. These RTT averages can be computed based on any appropriate algorithm, e.g., as a weighted moving average or exponential moving average. Additionally, while an RTT computation may be based on time, it may also be based on other information such as hop counts for retrieved content objects.

In estimating the transmission window size, recall that the transmission window size is coupled to time in that the window size changes over time, depending on the behavior of the transport protocol. The goal of this historical information is not to anticipate the behavior of the transport protocol, but rather to passively measure the effects of the transport protocol. Consider a small (and configurable) time epoch “E.” Given a frame of n interests I₁, . . . , I_(n), the responder component computes the number of outstanding interests for each namespace in the frame. The resultant number is treated as a sample in the given timeslot of size E. When the time slot advances, the new samples are computed. For example, in timeslot t1, there may be x outstanding interests for namespace “N.” Then, in timeslot t2, there may be y outstanding interests for namespace N. Thus, the average window size may be approximately computed as (x+y)/2. The accuracy of this approximation depends on both the granularity of the timeslot (e.g., E) and the width of the frame. E may also be dynamically modified based on RTT estimations. For example, if the RTT estimation for a given namespace is small, then E may correspondingly be decreased. The value of E is typically less than the time it takes for the responder component to process all interests in a given frame.

In computing a user-defined function, the responder component can accept closures for processing streams of interests. The representation of a closure conforms to the interface for the stream processing. That is, the closure is a function which accepts a sequence of interests, produces an output, and may invoke other closures in the process. This can be compared to the “map-reduce” paradigm, where a user provides custom “map” and “reduce” functions and the framework invokes them accordingly. The processing functions for an interest stream may be designed to model the functional paradigm. One example of such a user-defined function is one which estimates the frequency at which interests are used for a given namespace. Another example is a function which estimates the frequency of message failures (e.g., interest returns) for a given namespace.

A Marketplace for Network Resources

Based on the transport protocol of the present invention, some embodiments provide a system which operates as a network resource marketplace. Marketplace features may be initiated by the responder component or the requesting entity. The responder component may include in its initial response a set of values for available resources (e.g., bandwidth for packets related to a particular name prefix) and an option to pay for the resources (e.g., a selection of a type of digital currency such as a bitcoin). Upon receiving this response, the requesting entity may transmit an interest which includes a payment for the resource, or a bid for the resource (if the requester component indicates that the marketplace has an auction feature). The requester component may consider the bid from the requesting entity (along with relevant bids from other requesting entities), determine an allocation of the pertinent resource, and transmit the result of the resource allocation determination to the requesting entity (or entities, if applicable). Alternatively, the requesting entity can include in its initial query or interest message a bid or a payment for a resource, and the responder component can then respond to the bid or payment appropriately (e.g., with a response that includes the result of a resource allocation determination by the responder component, based on the bid from the requesting entity and bids from other requesting entities).

In some instances, a fair resource allocation may not be guaranteed, and thus, some network resources may be highly sought after by other network entities, e.g., parallel transport stacks using the same local forwarder. The responder component of the present invention can control some of these high-demand resources in a marketplace-like environment based on digital currency. For example, in the case where the requesting entity and the responder component are associated with different stacks (e.g., the responder component resides in a non-local forwarder for the requesting application), the requesting entity's query for more resources, which may imply higher values for the client-side transport protocol instance, may result in improved throughput at the cost of degrading throughput for competing flows. The responder component is responsible for making the determination of the balance between network improvement versus cost for a particular network resource.

In addition, a requesting entity may query multiple responder components simultaneously to obtain an optimal answer. For example, in a network with multiple possible flows for a particular interest message, a requesting entity may use this knowledge to its advantage to select the flow with the highest and most optimal transport protocol values or parameters.

Exemplary Intra-Stack Communication

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary communication in a system 300 which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein the requesting entity is a stack component of the same stack with which the responder component is associated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. System 300 corresponds to the exemplary transport framework depicted and described in relation to FIG. 2A, where the collector component (e.g., collector 242) resides in the forwarder (e.g., forwarder 240). Recall that a requesting entity can be: an application associated with a first stack, where the collector component resides in or is associated with the first stack (e.g., application 210); an application associated with a second stack that is different from the first stack (e.g., application 250); a stack component of the first stack, wherein the stack component is different from the collector component (e.g., flow controller 234); a stack component of the second stack (e.g., flow controller 274); and any other element or node in the network (not shown).

In system 300, the requesting entity is flow controller 234, which is a stack component of the same stack (e.g., stack 231) with which a responder component 244 is associated. Forwarder 240 includes responder component 244 and collector component 242. Flow controller 234 can generate a control message or query message 302 destined for responder 244 local forwarder 240. Query message 332 can have a name 302.1 of the following format: “/localhost/fwder/ssp/cmd=query-optimal-window-size/namespace=<namespace>/<nonce>.” The variables in name 302.1 can be defined as follows: “/localhost” is a the name for the device on which application 210, stack 231, and forwarder 240 reside; “/fwder” indicates that the control message is destined for the forwarder on the local device (e.g., forwarder 240); “/ssp” indicates the name of the specific responder component which resides inside the forwarder (e.g., “/ssp” for “session state protocol” or “/grc” for “generic responder component”); “cmd” indicates the command or query (e.g., to compute the optimal window size, which corresponds to a number of outstanding interests for an indicated namespace); “namespace” indicates the name prefix on which the command or query is based (e.g., a flow identifier or routable name prefix which includes one or more contiguous name components ordered beginning from the most general level, such as “/r_prefix,” “/a/b2/fileN,” or “/parc/ccn/file1”); and “<nonce>” is a randomly generated nonce that can guarantee both uniqueness and freshness. Name 330.1 can also include a string for the query, one or more parameters for the query, and a function for the query.

Responder 244, as the responding entity, can receive query message 302, perform a lookup in storage 244.1 for relevant historical information needed to perform the function included in query message 302, and subsequently return a response that includes the queried optimal transport parameters. The response, which can be a content object, can travel on a reverse path as query message 302 back to flow controller 234.

Responder 244 can also obtain the relevant historical information from a collector component. FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary responder component in a forwarder component, wherein the requesting entity and the responder component are associated with the same stack, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. During operation, responder 244 can receive from a requesting entity a query message 302 with a name 302.1 of the following format: “/localhost/fwder/ssp/cmd=query-optimal-window-size/namespace=<namespace>/<nonce>.” Responder 244 can determine whether the relevant historical information (e.g., information required to perform the command included in the query) is stored in its local cache. If not, responder 244 can submit a request 304 to collector 242 for the relevant historical information.

Note that collector 242 has previously collected and stored historical information relating to outgoing interests 390 and corresponding incoming content objects 392, and incoming interests 294 and corresponding outgoing content objects 396. Collector 242 can store this historical information in local storage device 242.1. Collector 242 can retrieve the relevant historical information from storage 242.1, and return the relevant historical information to responder 244 in a response 306. Responder 244 can subsequently perform a compute parameters function 308, whereby responder 244 executes the command included in the query based on the relevant historical information obtained from collector 242 (via request 304 and response 306). Finally, responder 244 can return to the requesting entity a response message 310 which includes the result of the requested command (e.g., the query for the optimal window size for the indicated namespace). The requesting entity can then use the information to perform an operation which increases network efficiency, such as converging to the optimal window size for a particular namespace.

FIG. 3C illustrates an exemplary communication in a system 320 which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein the requesting entity is an application associated with the same stack with which the responder component is associated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In system 320, the requesting entity is application 210, which is an application associated with the same stack (e.g., stack 231) with which responder component 244 is associated. Application 210 can generate a control message 322 destined for responder 244 in local forwarder 240. Query message 322 can have a name 322.1 of the following format: “/localhost/fwder/ssp/cmd=query-optimal-window-size/namespace=<namespace>/<nonce>” (which is the same as the format for control message 302 with name 302.1 in FIG. 3A). Similar to the communication in FIG. 3A, responder 244 receives query message 322 and returns a response on a reverse path as control message 322 back to application 210. In addition, responder 244 can communicate with collector 242 as depicted in relation to FIG. 3B.

Exemplary Inter-Stack Communication

FIG. 3D illustrates an exemplary communication in a system 330 which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein the requesting entity is an application associated with a stack with which the responder component is not associated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In system 330, the requesting entity is application 250, which is an application associated with a stack (e.g., stack 271) with which responder component 244 is not associated (e.g., responder 244 resides in forwarder 240 and is not associated with stack 271).

Application 250 can generate an interest message 332 with a name 332.1 of the following format: “/r_prefix/ssp/cmd=bid-on-bandwidth/param1=<bid.value.data>/param2=<data>/id=<id>/auth=<sig+cert>/<nonce>.” The variables in name 332.1 can be defined as follows: “/r_prefix” is a routable name prefix which includes one or more contiguous name components ordered beginning from the most general level (e.g., “/a/b2/fileN” or “/parc/ccn/file1”); “/ssp” indicates the name of the specific responder component which resides inside the forwarder (e.g., “/ssp” for “session state protocol” or “/grc” for “generic responder component”); “cmd” indicates the command or query (e.g., to compute the optimal window size, which corresponds to a number of outstanding interests for an indicated namespace, or to bid on an available resource such as bandwidth); “param1” indicates a parameter to be used in the command (e.g., as input for a function performed by responder 244); “param2” indicates another parameter to be used in the command; “id” indicates a user identifier of the requesting entity (e.g., “<id>”); “auth” indicates authentication information of the requesting entity, which can include the signature and/or digital certificate of the requesting entity (e.g., “<sig+cert>”); and “<nonce>” is a randomly generated nonce to ensure both uniqueness and freshness.

In some embodiments, name 332.1 can include one or more specific namespaces of the routable prefix for which the historical information is requested. Furthermore, the variables defined above and depicted as included in the name for the interest can be included in other fields of the interest. In other words, the variables and information included in name 332.1 can alternatively be indicated in interest 332 in other fields (not shown).

In addition, name 332.1 can include a string for the command (e.g., “bid-on-bandwidth”), one or more parameters for the query (e.g., “<bid.value.data>”), and a function for the query. For example, the function for the query can indicate a request for the responder component to perform a function or compute information based on the historical information, such as an optimal window size for a given namespace, an average RTT for a given namespace, an estimate of the transmission window size for a given namespace, or a user-defined function (as described above in the section entitled “Exemplary Optimal Transport Parameters”). Interest 332 can also include a payload 332.2 with a value of “<data>” (e.g., if the requesting entity needs to provide additional data for the responder component to perform a specific function or other computation).

Responder 244 can receive interest 332, perform a lookup in storage 244.1 for the relevant historical information, execute a computation or function as included in the command, and subsequently return a response which can be a content object (not shown) that includes the result of the computation (e.g., the queried optimal transport parameters). The responsive content object can travel on a reverse path as interest 332 back to application 250.

As described above in relation to FIG. 3B, responder 244 can also obtain the relevant historical information from a collector component. FIG. 3E illustrates an exemplary responder component in a forwarder component, wherein the requesting entity and the responder component are not associated with the same stack, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. During operation, responder 244 can receive from a requesting entity an interest message 332 with a name 332.1 of the following format: “/r_prefix/ssp/cmd=bid-on-bandwidth/param1=<bid.value.data>/param2=<data>/id=<id>/auth=<sig+cert>/<nonce>.” Responder 244 can determine whether the relevant historical information (e.g., information required to perform the command included in the query) is stored in its local cache. If not, responder 244 can submit a request 334 to collector 242 for the relevant historical information. Collector 242 can retrieve the relevant historical information from its local storage 242.1, and return the relevant historical information to responder 244 in a response 336. Responder 244 can subsequently perform a compute parameters function 338, whereby responder 244 executes the command included in the query based on the relevant historical information obtained from collector 242 (via request 334 and response 336). Finally, responder 244 can return to the requesting entity a content object 340 which includes the result of the requested command (e.g., a result of a resource allocation based on the bid or payment indicated in interest 332). For example, responsive content object 340 can indicate a transmission window size based on a greater available bandwidth (e.g., network resource) allocated to the requesting entity by the responder component, which results in converging to the optimal window size for a particular namespace.

FIG. 3F illustrates an exemplary communication in a system 350 which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein the requesting entity is a stack component of a stack with which the responder component is not associated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In system 350, the requesting entity is flow controller 274, which is a stack component of a stack (e.g., stack 271) with which responder component 244 is not associated. Similar to application 250 of system 330 in FIG. 3D, flow controller 274 in FIG. 3F can generate an interest message 352 with a name 352.1 of the following format: “/r_prefix/ssp/cmd=bid-on-bandwidth/param1=<bid.value.data>/param2=<data>/id=<id>/auth=<sig+cert>/<nonce>” (which is the same as the format for interest 332 with name 332.1 in FIG. 3D). Similar to the communication in FIG. 3D, responder 244 can receive interest 352 and return a responsive content object on a reverse path as interest 352 back to flow controller 274. In addition, responder 244 can communicate with collector 242 as depicted in relation to FIG. 3E.

FIG. 3G illustrates an exemplary communication in a system 360 which facilitates an efficient transport protocol, wherein the requesting entity is another network element or node, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In system 360, the requesting entity is a network device 364, which is another element or node in the network. Similar to application 250 of system 330 in FIG. 3D, network device 364 can generate an interest message 362 with a name 362.1 of the following format: “/r_prefix/ssp/cmd=bid-on-bandwidth/param1=<bid.value.data>/param2=<data>/id=<id>/auth=<sig+cert>/<nonce>” (which is the same as the format for interest 332 with name 332.1 in FIG. 3D). Similar to the communication in FIG. 3D, responder 244 receives interest 362 and returns a responsive content object on a reverse path as interest 362 back to device 364. In addition, responder 244 can communicate with collector 242 as depicted in relation to FIG. 3E.

Responder Component Facilitates Efficient Transport Protocol

FIG. 4A presents a flow chart 400 illustrating a method by a responding entity or a responder component for facilitating an efficient transport protocol, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. During operation, the responder component receives from a requesting entity a first interest which is a query for optimal transport parameters (operation 402). A name for an interest packet is a hierarchically structured variable length identifier that includes contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level, and the query is based on a name prefix that includes one or more contiguous name components. For example, the query may include a request for the optimal window size to use for the name prefix. The query may also include a bid or payment for network resources. In response to the first interest, the responder component obtains historical information necessary to compute the optimal transport parameters, where the historical information is associated with interest packets and corresponding content object packets based on the namespace or name prefix (operation 404). The responder component determines whether the historical information is stored in its local cache (operation 406). The responder component may have access to a local cache which stores the historical information, or the responder component may retrieve the historical information from another component that has access to or stores the historical information.

If the historical information is not stored in its local cache, the responder component retrieves the historical information from a collector component which stores the historical information (operation 408), and computes the optimal transport parameters based on the obtained historical information (operation 410). If the historical information is stored in its local cache, the responder component obtains the historical information from its local cache (not shown) and computes the optimal transport parameters based on the obtained historical information (operation 410). Subsequently, the responder component transmits to the requesting entity a first response which includes the computed optimal transport parameters (operation 412). The first response may include a set of values for available network resources and an option to pay or bid for the resources (as described above in the section entitled “A Marketplace for Network Resources”). The first response may also include a result of a bid or payment for the resources (if the first interest includes a bid or payment for resources). The first response may also include an ownership token which is a pre-image of a hash function performed by the responder component. The requesting entity can use the ownership token (or the hash of the token) in a subsequent session for verification when migrating state from one flow to another. The responder component can verify the requesting entity based on the ownership token (or the hash of the token).

FIG. 4B presents a flow chart 420 illustrating a method by a responding entity or a responder component for facilitating an efficient transport protocol, including a network resource marketplace, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. During operation, the responder component receives a first interest which is a query for optimal transport parameters (operation 422). A name for an interest packet is a hierarchically structured variable length identifier that includes contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level, and the query is based on a name prefix that includes one or more contiguous name components. In response to the first interest, the responder component computes the optimal transport parameters based on the historical information associated with the namespace or name prefix (operation 424). The responder component transmits to the requesting entity a first response which includes the computed optimal transport parameters (operation 426).

In response to the first response, the responder component receives a second interest that indicates a bid or payment for resource (operation 428). The responder component determines an allocation of resources based on the bid (and bids received from other requesting entities for the same resource) (operation 430). The responder component generates and transmits to the requesting entity (or entities, as applicable) a second response that includes a result of the resource allocation determination (operation 432).

Requesting Entity Facilitates Efficient Transport Protocol

FIG. 5A presents a flow chart 500 illustrating a method by a requesting entity for facilitating an efficient transport protocol, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. During operation, a requesting entity generates a first interest which is a query for optimal transport parameters (operation 502). A name for an interest packet is a hierarchically structured variable length identifier that includes contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level, and the query is based on a name prefix that includes one or more contiguous name components. The first interest can include a quality of service or priority level, user identification and authentication information of the requesting entity, an estimation by the requesting entity of the requested transport parameters, a notification flag for changes to the optimal parameters detected by the responder component, and a bid or payment for network resources. The requesting entity transmits the first interest to a responding entity or responder component (operation 504).

The requesting entity determines if it receives a first response with the queried optimal transport parameters (decision 506). The first response may include a set of values for available network resources and an option to pay or bid for the resources (as described above in the section entitled “A Marketplace for Network Resources”). The first response may also include a result of a bid or payment for resources (if the first interest includes a bid or payment for resources). The first response may also include an ownership token which is a pre-image of a hash function performed by the responder component. The requesting entity can use the ownership token (or the hash of the token) in a subsequent session for verification when migrating state from one flow to another. The responder component can verify the requesting entity based on the ownership token (or the hash of the token).

If the requesting entity does not receive the first response, the method returns. If the requesting entity does receive the first response, the requesting entity performs an operation based on the optimal transport parameters received in the response, where the operation increases network efficiency (operation 508).

FIG. 5B presents a flow chart 520 illustrating a method by a requesting entity for facilitating an efficient transport protocol, including a network resource marketplace, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. During operation, a requesting entity generates and transmits a first interest which is a query for optimal transport parameters (operation 522). A name for an interest packet is a hierarchically structured variable length identifier that includes contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level, and the query is based on a name prefix that includes one or more contiguous name components. The requesting entity determines if it receives a first response with the queried optimal transport parameters (decision 524). If it does not, the method returns. If it does, the requesting entity performs an operation based on the optimal transport parameters received in the response, where the operation increases network efficiency (operation 526).

Recall that the first response can include a set of values for available network resources and an option to bid or pay for the resources (as described above in relation to decision 506 of FIG. 5A. In response to the first response, the requesting entity can generate and transmit a second interest that indicates a bid or payment for resource (operation 528). The requesting entity determines whether it receives a second response which includes a result of a resource allocation determination by the responder component (decision 530). If it does not, the method returns. If it does, the requesting entity performs an action based on the resource allocation determination, where the action increases network efficiency (operation 532).

Exemplary Computer System

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary computer system 602 that facilitates an efficient transport protocol, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Computer system 602 includes a processor 604, a memory 606, and a storage device 608. Memory 606 can include a volatile memory (e.g., RAM) that serves as a managed memory, and can be used to store one or more memory pools. Furthermore, computer system 602 can be coupled to a display device 610, a keyboard 612, and a pointing device 614. Storage device 608 can store an operating system 616, a content-processing system 618, and data 630.

Content-processing system 618 can include instructions, which when executed by computer system 602, can cause computer system 602 to perform methods and/or processes described in this disclosure. Specifically, content-processing system 618 may include instructions for sending and/or receiving data packets to/from other network nodes across a computer network, such as a content centric network (communication module 620). A data packet can include an interest packet or a content object packet with a name that is an HSVLI. Further, content-processing system 618 can include instructions for receiving a first interest which indicates a query for optimal transport parameters (communication module 620). Content-processing system 618 can also include instructions for computing the optimal parameters based on historical information associated with a name prefix (parameter-computing module 624). Content-processing system 618 can also include instructions for transmitting a first response which includes the computed optimal transport parameters (communication module 620).

Content-processing system 618 can also include instructions for generating a second response that is an interest which indicates a notification of changes to the computed optimal parameters (packet-generating module 622). Content-processing system 618 can also include instructions for generating an ownership token which is a pre-image of a hash function that results in a hash value (token-managing module 626) and including the ownership token in the first response (packet-generating module 622).

Content-processing system 618 can also include instructions for determining an allocation of resources based on a bid or bids (resource-allocating module 628). Content-processing system 618 can also include instructions for including in the first response a set of values for available resources and an option to pay for the resources (packet-generating module 622). Content-processing system 618 can also include instructions for, in response to the first response, receiving a second interest that indicates a bid or payment for the resources (communication module 620), and generating a second response that includes a result of the resource allocation determination (packet-generating module 622).

Furthermore, content-processing system 618 can include instructions for generating a first interest which indicates a query for optimal transport parameters (packet-generating module 622) and transmitting the first interest to a responding entity (communication module 620). Content-processing system 618 can also include instructions for, in response to receiving a first response which includes the computed optimal parameters, performing an operation that increases network efficiency (operation-performing module 630).

Content-processing system 618 can also include instructions for including in the first interest a notification flag (packet-generating module 622) and in response to the first interest, receiving a second response that is an interest which indicates the notification of the changes to the computed optimal parameters (communication module 620).

Content-processing system 618 can also include instructions for indicating in the first interest a bid or payment for available resources (packet-generating module 622). Content-processing system 618 can also include instructions for generating a second interest that indicates a bid or payment for resources (packet-generating module 622) and in response to the second interest, receiving a second response that includes a result of a resource allocation determination (communication module 620).

Data 632 can include any data that is required as input or that is generated as output by the methods and/or processes described in this disclosure. Specifically, data 632 can store at least: a name; a name that is an HSVLI; one or more name components; a name prefix; a namespace; a packet that corresponds to an interest or a content object; a transport framework; a protocol or transport stack; one or more components of a transport or protocol stack; a collector component; a responder component; a portal instance associated with a transport or protocol stack; historical information (as described above in the section entitled “Exemplary Historical Information”); a request or query for optimal transport parameters; transport parameters (as described above in the section entitled “Exemplary Optimal Transport Parameters”); a query or a control message; a bid or payment for resources; a set of values for available resources; an option to pay for resources; a notification flag or indicator; a resource allocation determination; data to support the implementation of a network resource marketplace; a routable name prefix; a flow identifiers; a quality of service or priority level; a user identifier; authentication information; a set of estimated transport parameters; a type for a query; a string for a query; one or more query parameters; a command that indicates a function for a query; a type of transport parameter requested; a result of the function for the query; a randomly generated nonce; an identifier for a local forwarder; a window size; a rate of transmission for re-transmitted interests; a rate of transmission for original interests; an ownership token; a hash value that is the result of a hash function performed on the ownership token; a type of digital currency; and digital currency.

The data structures and code described in this detailed description are typically stored on a computer-readable storage medium, which may be any device or medium that can store code and/or data for use by a computer system. The computer-readable storage medium includes, but is not limited to, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, magnetic and optical storage devices such as disk drives, magnetic tape, CDs (compact discs), DVDs (digital versatile discs or digital video discs), or other media capable of storing computer-readable media now known or later developed.

The methods and processes described in the detailed description section can be embodied as code and/or data, which can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium as described above. When a computer system reads and executes the code and/or data stored on the computer-readable storage medium, the computer system performs the methods and processes embodied as data structures and code and stored within the computer-readable storage medium.

Furthermore, the methods and processes described above can be included in hardware modules. For example, the hardware modules can include, but are not limited to, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and other programmable-logic devices now known or later developed. When the hardware modules are activated, the hardware modules perform the methods and processes included within the hardware modules.

The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description only. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Additionally, the above disclosure is not intended to limit the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer system for facilitating an efficient transmission of content using a transport protocol, the system comprising: a processor; and a storage device storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising: receiving a first interest which indicates a query for optimal transport parameters, wherein a name for an interest is a hierarchically structured variable length identifier that includes contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level, wherein the query is based on a name prefix that includes one or more contiguous name components; computing the optimal transport parameters based on historical information associated with the name prefix; and transmitting a first response which includes computed optimal parameters to a requesting entity, thereby facilitating a transport protocol which increases network efficiency.
 2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the optimal transport parameters include one or more of: an optimal or average size of a transmission window for the name prefix; an average round trip time for an interest and corresponding content object based on the name prefix; and a parameter to use when initiating a new flow based on a transport protocol.
 3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first interest indicates one or more of: a quality of service or a priority level; a user identifier of the requesting entity; authentication information of the requesting entity; and a set of estimated optimal transport parameters which include an estimate by the requesting entity of the requested optimal transport parameters.
 4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first interest includes a notification flag which indicates a request for the computer system to send a notification to the requesting entity, wherein the notification indicates changes to the computed optimal parameters, and wherein the method further comprises: generating a second response that is an interest which indicates the notification of the changes to the computed optimal parameters.
 5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: generating an ownership token which is a pre-image of a hash function that results in a hash value; and including the ownership token in the first response, wherein the ownership token and the hash value are subsequently used by the requesting entity to provide to the computing system verification for migrating state from one flow to another.
 6. The computer system of claim of 1, wherein the first interest further indicates a bid or payment for available resources, and wherein the method further comprises: in response to the first interest, determining an allocation of the resources based on the bid or based on the bid and bids indicated in interests from other requesting entities, wherein the first response further includes a result of the resource allocation determination.
 7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: including in the first response a set of values for available resources and an option to pay for the resources; in response to the first response, receiving a second interest that indicates a bid or payment for the resources; determining an allocation of the resources based on the bid or based on the bid and bids indicated in interests from other requesting entities; and generating for the requesting entity or entities a second response that includes a result of the resource allocation determination.
 8. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the option to pay for resources indicates payment methods based on digital currency, including one or more of: a bitcoin; a computing resource; an amount of time spent by the requesting entity to perform a function on behalf of the computer system; a virtual currency; a cryptocurrency; and any other digital currency.
 9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first interest or the name for the first interest indicates one or more of: a flow identifier which indicates the name prefix on which the query is based; a routable prefix which includes one or more contiguous name components beginning from the most general level; an identifier for the computer system; a command that indicates a function for the query and a type of transport parameter requested; one or more parameters for the query; a bid or payment for available resources; and a random nonce.
 10. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the method is performed by a responding entity which resides in one or more of: an application; a single stack; a shared stack; a single forwarder; a shared forwarder; and any node in a network.
 11. A computer system for facilitating transmission of content using a transport protocol, the system comprising: a processor; and a storage device storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising: generating a first interest which indicates a query for optimal transport parameters, wherein a name for an interest is a hierarchically structured variable length identifier that includes contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level, wherein the query is based on a name prefix that includes one or more contiguous name components; transmitting the first interest to a responding entity, which causes the responding entity to compute the optimal transport parameters based on historical information associated with the name prefix; and in response to receiving from the responding entity a first response which includes computed optimal parameters, performing an operation that increases network efficiency based on the historical information, thereby facilitating a transport protocol which increases network efficiency.
 12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the optimal transport parameters include one or more of: an optimal or average size of a transmission window for the name prefix; an average round trip time for an interest and corresponding content object based on the name prefix; and a parameter to use when initiating a new flow based on a transport protocol.
 13. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the first interest indicates one or more of: a quality of service or a priority level a user identifier of the computer system; authentication information of the computer system; and a set of estimated optimal transport parameters which include an estimate by the computer system of the requested optimal transport parameters.
 14. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises: including in the first interest a notification flag which indicates a request for the responding entity to send a notification to the computer system, wherein the notification indicates changes to the computed optimal parameters; and in response to the first interest, receiving a second response that is an interest which indicates the notification of the changes to the computed optimal parameters.
 15. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the first response includes an ownership token which is a pre-image of a hash function performed by the responding entity, wherein the hash function results in a hash value, and wherein the ownership token and the hash value are subsequently used by the computer system to provide to the responding entity verification for migrating state from one flow to another.
 16. The computer system of claim of 11, wherein the method further comprises: indicating in the first interest a bid or payment for available resources, wherein the first response further includes a result of a resource allocation determination by the responding entity based on the bid or based on the bid and bids indicated in interests from other requesting entities.
 17. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the first response further includes a set of values for available resources and an option to pay for the resources, wherein the method further comprises: generating a second interest that indicates a bid or payment for the resources; and in response to the second interest, receiving a second response that includes a result of a resource allocation determination by the responding entity based on the bid or based on the bid and bids indicated in interests from other requesting entities.
 18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the option to pay for resources indicates payment methods based on digital currency, including one or more of: a bitcoin; a computing resource; an amount of time spent by the computer system to perform a function on behalf of the responding entity; a virtual currency; a cryptocurrency; and any other digital currency.
 19. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the first interest or the name for the first interest indicates one or more of: a flow identifier which indicates the name prefix on which the query is based; a routable prefix which includes one or more contiguous name components beginning from the most general level; an identifier for the responding entity; a command that indicates a function for the query and a type of transport parameter requested; one or more parameters for the query; a bid or payment for resources; and a random nonce.
 20. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the method is performed by a requesting entity which is one or more of: an application associated with a first stack, wherein the responding entity resides in or is associated with the first stack; an application associated with a second stack that is different from the first stack; a stack component of the first stack, wherein the stack component is different from the responding entity; a stack component of the second stack; and any other element or node in the network. 